Item R00002740 - Quarterly Return

Onion Lake Anglican Indian Residential School (IRS) was initially located on the northeast corner of the Makaoo reserve (#120), which combined with the Seekaskootch (#119) holdings formed the Onion Lake reserve located approximately 42 km northwest of Lloydminster in Treaty 6 territory. The second location was situated at a new site on the Onion Lake reserve. It operated from 1893 - 1943 (50 years) under the Anglican Church administrative control. The school burned down and resumed operations at temporary facilities in Prince Albert (summary narrative to follow as St. Alban’s IRS) in 1944.

Other names identifying the residential school include Onion Lake Anglican (or Church of England) Indian Residential School, Onion Lake Anglican (or Church of England) Mission School, Onion Lake Anglican (or Church of England) Boarding School, and Saint Barnabus Indian Residential School (no dates identified).

The school was initially privately-managed by the Matheson family from 1893 - 1911.
The Government of Canada was responsible for funding the school, which was managed and operated by the Anglican Church from 1911 - 1921. After 1921, the IRS was managed by the Indian and Eskimo Commission (a.k.a. Indian School Administration) of the Missionary Society of the Church of England in Canada.

In 1911, an Operating Agreement between the Diocese of Saskatchewan and Indian Affairs operated the Onion Lake Anglican Boarding School.

On September 25, 1962, the federal government and INDIANESCOM (the Oblate Indian and Eskimo Council) signed an agreement for the operation and management of the IRS.

No information available regarding what grades were taught at the IRS.

No information is available regarding student enrolment statistics for the IRS.